SBOE Member District 4

Lawrence Allen, Jr., a third-generation educator, was elected to the State Board of Education in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2014. He holds the same seat once occupied by his mother, Alma Allen.

As the District 4 board member, he represents about 1.7 million people in the Houston area. He serves as a member of the board's Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund, the committee which oversees the Permanent School Fund, the nation's largest education
endowment. The committee also oversees policies for some funding and auditing functions. He previously served two terms as vice chair of this committee.

Allen previously served on the Committee on Planning and Committee on Instruction. Allen also served a term as vice chair of the 15-member board.

Along with his service on the board, Allen is the director of special projects in the Houston Independent School District. He served as principal of the Jesse H. Jones High, assistant principal of Dowling Middle, Jones Senior and Jack Yates High School. He was a teacher at Lanier and Dowling Middle School.

Allen is a member of the Houston Association of School Administrators; Texas Association of Gifted and Talented; National Association of Secondary Principals; and the National Association of Secondary Administrators; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

He holds a Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees from Prairie View A&M University.

As the District 4 representative on the State Board of Education, Allen, a Democrat, represents parts of Fort Bend and Harris counties.

Allen is married to Carlotta K. Allen. The Allens have five children, Patrice, Lawrence III, Alim, Ali and Terrell.